Chapter 146. Operation Frozen Canopy

Aiden stepped out of the Warriors Association Building. He had finally updated his rank to legendary rank 2.

Aiden left the place and headed back to his apartment.

After he returned back to his apartment, he ate something and decided to rest.

Currently, he was seated on his couch, scrolling through some feeds on social media.

He found several articles about the occurrence at Outpost 47 online.

He naturally skipped them.

He also saw some videos about a guy trending on Riktok.

Aiden shook his head and scrolled down further.

He saw a piece of news.

[Breaking News. The International Union welcomes two new members.

Ashbourne Cane and Vandaport Venice.

They have broken into the beginner rank 4 level. Their inauguration ceremony will be taking place at the Headquarters of the International Union, located in the Tropical Oceans of the Northern Continent. Further details about the inauguration date and streaming details will be revealed to the people of Endra soon]

"Two more powerful people have joined the International Union. Will their search for the Paranormal Liberation Order HQ yield fruitful results, now that two more rank 4 warriors have joined them? Also, is it not possible that some of the members of the International Union are part of the Paranormal Liberation Order? If they have members in high-ranking positions in the military of the Eldorath Empire, then that means it’s the same across the empires across the southern continent. If it’s like that across the empires across the southern continent, then it’s like that across the empires of the northern, western, and eastern continents," Aiden thought.

"I won’t even be surprised if the leader of the Paranormal Liberation Order is a legendary rank 4 warrior, someone posing as a saint to the world. I’m sure they even have members in the higher positions of the Global Warriors Association, Global Guild Union, Global Artifact Engineers Association, Global Alchemist Association, and the Global Academic Federation. Only with a very charismatic and influential person leading the Order can they amass such influence and infiltrations into the high echelons of society.

Well, I will see if it’s possible to dig out some information about the Order from the Emperor, DeepSea, and the others when I become a legendary rank 3 warrior and I can overpower them. For now, that should not be part of my worries."

Aiden went through a list of messages sent to him by the parents of his friends. They were checking in on him to see how he was doing.

He replied to them warmly. As for Desmonda and the others, they were seriously preparing for the National Warriors Universities Competitions. So, they were completely off the grid. The competition will begin tomorrow, according to the news posted on the Global Academic HQ branch in the Eldorath Empire.

Aiden closed his eyes and drifted to sleep on the couch.

When he woke up, his mind was very refreshed and well rested. As for what woke him up, it was a message.

"About time." It was time for his next mission briefing.

Aiden changed into a military jacket, jeans, and boots, and headed towards Captain Peterson’s office.

*****

Aiden stood before Captain Peterson’s office. He knocked on the door.

"Come in," Peterson’s voice echoed from behind the door.

Aiden entered the office.

When Aiden arrived, Captain Peterson was standing in a salutatory posture. A blue hologram of DeepSea had materialised in the room.

"So he’s personally present for this mission. It seems it’s an important mission," Aiden thought. "But there’s no doubt about the fact that he deems it above my ability to handle it. Perhaps, I’m being sent on a mission with a team of elites. I’m probably the weakest among the team. He’s adding me to them to make sure I die in the mission environment. The others are deemed strong enough to survive the mission and complete it. That way, even if I die, the mission can still be completed and he gets to kill two birds with one stone."

"Operative Vhorn," DeepSea said, "Given your... unprecedented efficiency at Outpost 47, command has deemed you the most qualified candidate for a critical recon and clearance operation. The details have been unlocked."

A hologram lit up before everyone.

Aiden looked at the mission details.

___

[OPERATION: FROZEN CANOPY]

* Location: Tropus State — Zone Zero (Formerly known as Astro City)

* Threat Level: Hell Difficulty

* Target Objective: Extermination of Rank 2 and Rank 3 Chaotic Beasts / Area Clearance

[HISTORICAL BACKGROUND]

One hundred years ago, a catastrophic rank 3 Gate incident occurred in Astro City of Tropus State, completely flattening the metropolis. Due to wartime resource constraints at the time, the ruined city was abandoned to rot rather than allocating funds to rebuild it after closing the gate.

Over the past century, the untamed wilderness reclaimed the urban ruins. A dense, choked jungle grew over the flattened skyscrapers, creating a massive, isolated biome infested with powerful rank 3 and rank 2 chaotic beasts.

[ENVIRONMENTAL ANOMALY]

Due to the altering of the environment as a result of the gate phenomenon hundred years ago, Zone Zero features a unique, hazardous climate mix: a suffocating, hyper-dense rainforest overlaid with extreme, sub-zero glacial ice. Vines encase frozen skyscrapers, and lethal blizzards sweep through humid canopy roots.

[PRIMARY DIRECTIVE]

Recent orbital surveillance has detected an unprecedented spike in pure, high-density worldly energy in the forest. The Empire intends to reclaim Zone Zero and convert it into a top-tier, classified cultivation site for high-ranking military officials and Admirals.

Operative Vhorn is assigned to join an elite strike team tasked with slaughtering all Rank 2 and Rank 3 chaotic beasts within the core perimeter to secure the site for military deployment.

___

Peterson read over the file from his desk, his brow furrowing slightly. "A tropical rainforest frozen over by ice energy as a result of the environmental phenomena left behind by the gate incident... The atmospheric condition alone will drain an operative’s worldly energy reserves twice as fast. And the chaotic beasts in that sector have had a century to grow stronger without human intervention."

DeepSea’s projection gave a faint, subtle nod. "Standard high-risk deployment. Since Operative Vhorn possesses such remarkable stamina, command felt this task suited his... unique skill set."

Aiden was quiet.

It was just as he theorised earlier. He was being sent in with a team of elites, possibly rank 3 warriors who had a high chance of completing the mission. DeepSea’s motive for adding him to the elite team was to get him killed.

Sending a legendary rank 2 Private into a century-old mutated death trap full of Rank 3 beasts was nothing short of an execution order wrapped in official military paperwork.

Deepsea and company expected the harsh, dual-climate environment and mutated Rank 3 beasts to grind him down until he finally died.

A dense jungle packed with century-old Rank 3 chaotic beasts.

To DeepSea, it was a death trap. To Aiden, it was a goldmine of blood essence and the perfect playground to push his power further.

"When do I leave, sir?" Aiden asked with polite indifference, looking directly at DeepSea’s projection.

DeepSea’s eyes narrowed slightly "The transport shuttle leaves in thirty minutes. Do not keep your teammates waiting, Private."

"Noted," Aiden replied.

"Any questions, Private Vhorn?" DeepSea said.

"No, sir," Aiden replied.

"Dismissed," DeepSea said.

Aiden nodded and walked towards the door.

DeepSea watched Aiden’s retreating back.

"I doubt he will return from this one, but even if he does, he will be sent on hell difficulty level missions till he dies on one of them," DeepSea thought.

His hologram slightly nodded to Peterson and panned out.

As for Peterson , he quietly returned to his duties.